The Ebbett Group have announced plans to launch a new car dealership in central Nelson, in mid 2022, rejuvenating a long-term vacant site on the corner of Rutherford Street and Nile Street.
Once refurbished, the site will be home to Skoda, GWM and Haval, three of the fastest growing vehicle brands in New Zealand. In addition, there will be a significant used vehicle and service operation, creating a full dealership experience.
Skoda, somewhat a hidden gem in the New Zealand automotive market previously, has undergone significant expansion in recent years. Now a valued mainstream brand, this growth started with the Kodiaq being crowned NZ Car of the Year in 2017 and culminated in securing the prestigious NZ Police contract last year from the now departed Holden.
The Skoda growth story will continue in 2022 and beyond, particularly as they bring their first electric vehicle to these shores in 2023 – the much-anticipated Enyaq.
GWM, the second fastest growing NZ automotive brand in 2021 behind Tesla, is home to the Cannon ute (recently awarded a coveted 5-star ANCAP safety rating), and SUV specialist Haval. Both brands are gaining real traction throughout the country with their outstanding value proposition and the new Nelson dealership will now offer customers at the top of the South Island these great new options, given the closest current dealership is Christchurch.
GWM are also bringing an electric option to Kiwi buyers in 2022, launching the ORA brand which promises to be a significant addition to the EV market.
The new Nelson dealership will be the Ebbett Group’s first foray into the South Island. Currently operating 18 dealerships in the North Island, from Pukekohe down to Wellington, they are excited to be hopping over the strait.
Managing Director, Ben van den Engel said “We’ve been looking for the right opportunity in this part of the country for a while now and are excited to have found a site, and brands, we feel can be extremely successful here. We’ve spent 93 years perfecting our craft in the North Island, so I think it’s about time we expanded down here.”
He went on to say “Ebbett will be a new name for the region, but we’re a family business and we’re focused on being a valuable member of the community. We have a values-based approach to long term customer relationships, and we hope to quickly demonstrate our commitment to establishing a positive reputation.”
A number of jobs will be available at the new dealership and Ebbett will be starting a recruitment drive in March. Anyone interested in a position should email their CV to [email protected]. Anyone looking for more information on the Ebbett Group, or their brands, can visit www.ebbett.nz.
